Cotton-chopper



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

A. OHAMBERS. COTTON CHOPPER Patented Aug. 27, 1889;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. CHAMBERS. COTTON CHOPPER.

No. 409,771. Patented Aug. 27,1889.

I H 1 l l ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM CHAMBERS, OF BAGXVELL, TEXAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,771, dated August27, 1889.

Application filed May 3, 1889. Serial No. 309,541. (No model.)

To all whom, is may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM CHAMBERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bag well, in the county of Red River and State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Cotton-Chopper, of which the followingisa speciiication.

This invention relates to cotton-choppers; and it has for its object toprovide a machine of this class which shall be simple, inexpen-' frontand rear beams 13 G, and is mounted upon the axle D, having thetransportingwheels E E,which are mounted securely upon the ends of saidaxle, the latter being journaled revolubly in suitable boxes orbearingsF upon the under sides of the side beams A A of the frame. Said sidebeamsAA are connected by a transverse cross-bar G.

Bearings H H are provided on the under side of the said beams G, and therear frame beam 0 or longitudinal shaft 11, provided at its front endwith a pinion I, meshing with a gear-wheel J, which is suitably securedupon the revolving axle of my machine, and from which motion may thusbetransmitted to the said longitudinal shaft H. Thelatter is provided withone or more radial arms K K, the outer ends of which carry thechopping-hoes L, the operation of which will be well understood.

The cross-bar G of the frame has an upwardly-extending bifurcatedstandard M, in which is pivoted a lever N, the front end of which has adownward extending pivoted arm 0, to the lower end of which is attachedthe rearwardly-extending shoe P. The revolving axle 1) of the machine ismade square in cross section, and it will be seen that by depressing therear end of the lever M the shoe P will be brought into contact with thesaid axle, thus locking it and preventing it from revolving, therebyinterrupting the rotary motion of the shaft H, carrying the choppers.

Through a vertical perforation Q in the front beam of the machineextends a vertical shank R, the lower end of which carries a plate S,provided with an inverted-V-shaped notch T of sufficient size tostraddle the row of growing plants which is to be operated upon by themachine.

T T are shanks extending vertically through the perforations in the sidebeams of the machine, and provided at their lower ends with standards UU, which are connected by means of sweeps or scrapers B B with the innersides of the V-shaped notch T in the plate X.

The sides of the frame are connected, near the rear end of the same, bya cross-bar WV, having downwardly-extending standards X, which carrysweep-plows Y of ordinary construction. Handles Z Z, by means of whichthe machine may be conveniently guided, are to be suitably attached tothe frame.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood. As the machine progresses over the field theV'shaped notch in the plate S straddles the row of plants which is to beoperated upon, and the sweeps or scrapers connected to the said plateserve to destroy any weeds that maybe growing close to the plants and tothrow them outwardly from the same. At the same time the rotary chopperis operated so as to chop out or thin the row, leaving stands of propersize. When for any reason it shall be desired to suspend the operationof the chopper temporarily, this may be conveniently done by means ofthe brake mechanism herein described.

The construction of my improved machine is exceedingly simple andinexpensive, and it may be operated with a small expenditure of power.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a cotton-chopper, thecombination of the rectangular frame, a longitudinal shaft provided withradial arms carrying choppinghoes, a pinion at the front end of saidlongitudinal shaft, a revolving axle made square 5 in cross-section, agear-wheel upon the said axle, meshing with the pinion upon thelongitudinal chopper-shaft, and a lever having a downwardly-extendingpivoted arm provided With a shoe adapted to engage the axle and preventit from revolving, substantially as herein described, and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a cotton-chopper, the combination, with the frame, of a verticalshank mounted centrally in the front beam of the frame and provided atits lower end with a plate having an inverted-V-shaped notch adapted tostraddle the row of plants,and diverging scrapers attached to andextending rearwardly from the sides of said notch, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. In a cotton-chopper, the combination, with the frame, of the verticalshank mounted centrally in the front beam of the same, and provided atits lower end with aplate having an inverted-V-shaped notch, the shanksmounted vertically in the sides of the frame and havingdownwardly-extending standards, and the forwardly-converging scrapersattached to the said standards and to the inner sides of the V-shapednotch in the vertical front plate, substantially as and for the purposeherein set forth.

4. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of the frame, the vertical platesecured to the front beam and having an inverted-V-shaped notch,thestandards secured to the side beams of the frame, the scrapersconnecting said standards with the sides of the V-shaped notch, thelongitudinal shaft carrying the radial chopping-hoes adapted to Workbetween the diverging rear ends of said scrapers, and mechanism fortransmitting motion to the said longitudinal chopper-shaft from the axleof the machine, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a cotton-chopper, the combination ofthe frame, the vertical plateat the front end of the same having an inverted-V-shaped notch, thestandards extending downwardly from the sides of the same, the scrapersconnecting said standards with the sides of the V-shaped notch, thelongitudinal choppershaft, means for transmitting motion to the latterfrom the axle of the machine, and a transverse frame-beam havingdownwardlyextending standards provided with sweepplows, substantially asand for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABRAM CHAMBERS.

mark

lVitnesses:

V. S. DORSETT, J. T. JEMIsoN;

